BROTHEL OPENING ON TRACK
Madam set to lift veil
TOWNSVILLE’S first legal brothel to open in years has taken a little longer to reach its climax.
But new madam of the town Kay Lyons says her venture, The Seven Veils, is due to open with a bang on August 26, given the indications that demand is strong.
The opening is about four weeks later than expected. Ms Lyons said finalising the lease had taken a little longer than expected.
“I’ve got my foot in the door. We are gearing up to go,” she said. “I don’t think there’s any other brothel that will be quite like this one.”
The Seven Veils will operate on Hugh Ryan Drive, in the industrial heartland of Garbutt, surrounded by automotive transmission and mechanical repair businesses.
Ms Lyons said tradespeople had told her about an “amazing” number of cars driving slowly past and stopping, the drivers evidently curious about the brothel’s opening.
Also, some of the city’s prostitutes who will work in the premises say they have been very busy.
“The girls here, who have been working from home, they want to come and work here,” Ms Lyons said, explaining this was partly to relieve the pressure on home life.
She had about 20 prostitutes “on the books”. Some will come from Brisbane and Cairns.
Among the qualities Ms Lyons hopes to bring are a safe, happy environment and discretion.
The client rooms are being themed on settings yet to be revealed.
Ms Lyons, a one-time furniture maker, waitress and barmaid, is new to the industry.
She said the requirements, particularly from the state’s Prostitution Licensing Authority, had been exhaustive.
“There’s a lot involved with all the policies and procedures with the PLO. COVID has added extra procedures,” Ms Lyons said.
Some of these extra procedures included restrictions on the number of prostitutes operating in the premises to five, extra cleaning including sanitising of special latex mattress covers and taking clients’ temperatures.
“People will be able to book if they want to. We are only allowed three clients in the waiting area at a time,” she said. “I will meet and greet with the thermometer. I’ll also do some reception work.”
Ms Lyons said she hadn’t really stopped to think about what it meant to be a madam, although it was something she had always wanted to do.
There had been some negative reactions but most people were fairly relaxed about it, she said.
“It’s not cheap to set up,” she said, declining to say how much, but it is understood you would need at least $100,000.
Prices start from $280 an hour. Ray White Commercial agent Troy Townsend, who helped with the leasing arrangements, said the premises had been fitted for brothel use but had been empty for six years.
Mr Townsend said at least four parties, including a “lot of entrepreneurial-type people” had been interested in the past but had failed to reach the finishing line for financial or licensing considerations.
“It is great to be able to help facilitate the provision of an essential public service which has been missing for too long in Townsville,” he said.
“I think the business has a large, under-serviced market and few competitors – the ideal mix for a successful enterprise.”